Retort-furnace for roasting ores



(No-Model.) v v 2 Sheets-Sheet '1. G. CHERRY, Sr.

RE'I'ORT FURNACE FOR ROASTING ORES. No.1290.212 Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

N. PETERS. flwwulhnmwmwmin m. n c.

' (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0.v GHERRY, .S1*, RETORT FURNACE FOR ROASTING ORES;

No. 290.212; I

Patented Deo. 18, 1883.

ILIIIIIIIIIIIIkIIIIIIL I CUMMINGSCHEBRY, sn;

. U T STATES PATE T OFFICE. I

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RE TORT-F URNACE FOR ROASTING QRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 290,212, dated December 18, 1883, Application filed September 16, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

r. Be it known that I, CUMMINGs CHERRY, Sr., residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented newand useful Improvements in Retort-Furnaces for Boasting Ores, of which the following is afull description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which, i

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section on line was of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a horizontal cross-section on line 3 y of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a side elevation. The object of this invention is to provide an improved furnace and apparatus for the treatment of the various mineral ores as found in nature, and to separate from them that which is deleterious to the different mechanical appliances in use-such as sulphurous matter, also phosphates, antimony, arsenic, and zinc, either any or all of then1preliminary or preparatory to their reduction or fusion inrthe smelting-furnace; and to that end my invention consists in the means hereinafter particularly described, and defined by the claims. In the drawings, A A indicate the mason work upon which my apparatus is supported, and by which it is or may be surrounded; B, interior chambers of the masonry; C, ovens or retorts for receiving theores; D, extensions of the retorts through the upper part of the masonry; D, covers for. the extensions D; E, spouts or closed. chutes for the discharge of the ores after treatment; E, doors for closing the chutes while the ores are under treatment; F, interior perforated pipes of the retorts, closed at their upper ends, by-which steam, air, or gas is admitted within the retorts; G, steam, air, or gas chamber; H, escape-flue for the products of combustion; I, side escapefiues leading to the main flue H; J, hot-air chamber; K, pipe for receiving the'hot gases and other products of combustion from an adjacent' blast-furnace or hot-air chamber; L, flubs from the chamber J, by which the heated gases and other matters arepermitted to esa cape from the chamber .I and flow intothe chambers B of the masonry; :M, grates'for the furnace; M, doors leading to the furnaces within the chambers B; N, side pipes, by which the volatilized or evaporated. mattersofthe retorts are conducted awayfrom them; 0,

vessels or tanks for receiving a coil or worm section or continuation of the pipes N; P, the

coil-or worm; Q, doors to-the ash-pit; R,'

blast pipes; S, door or opening for cleaning the chamber G; a b, dampers or gates.

The mason-work A A is best made in the form shown, although its form will be varied to suit the circumstances of locatiomand it is will be extended vertically, so as to form by itself a chimney. Y

I The masonry is so constructed as to form in its erection the chambers B and flues H, I, and J. The ovens or retorts C are located within the chambers B, as shown, and, as

shown, they. are supportedupon the chamber G; but additional supports maybe given them, as required. A length of vfrom sixteen'to eighteen feet and a diameter of about two feet will be sufficient for the successful operation of the retorts C. The'retorts are made of castiron or other suitable material, with a slightlyincreasing diameter downward, and they are provided with flanges or extensions, by which they are connected with the extensions D and E. The extension D is provided with a close fitting cover, -D, and the extension E with a similar cover, E, both of which may be made air-tight by ordinary luting. Each'retort O is provided with an interior pipe or pipes, F.- A single pipe is best applied by locating it centrally, as shown. This pipe is provided with perforations, which are best made at a downward angle, as shown in Fig. 1, which prevents the filling of these perforations with particles of dust or dirt from the ores. The secondary or side furnaces, M M, surround these retorts C at or near their lower ends, so that whenever necessary an additional or secondary fire may be built around the retorts at that point The ashes from these furnaces fall into the space around the chambers G, and are removed by means of the doors Q; The chambers G are made of cast-iron and provided with pipes R, by which or through which hot or cold air, gas, or steam may be forced or drawn into them. By making, with suitable branches, adirectcounection of the pipesRwith the pipe F, the chamber G may be omitted. The passages I and L are provided with gates or dampers a Z), arranged with rods for convenient operation, so that the operator or attendant may control the flow of the hot products from the blast-furnace into and out of the chambers 13. The pipes N, as shown, lead from the extensions D. They may, however, be made to lead directly from the retort 0. They extend sufficiently sidewise to be brought outside of or around the masonry, and are carried down to a point lower than the upper end of the chamber G, and are let into tanks or ves sels O, which may be tubs, cisterns, or other suitable vessel for holding water. Each pipe N, at its connection with the cistern, is converted into or attached to the coil or worm I, by which means the evaporated or escaped products of the retorts are condensed. to be used for some useful purpose for which they may be adapted; and in order to prevent the condensed matters of the pipes from passing into the vessel 0, the lower end of the coil passes through. said vessel, and such a receiver as may be required to hold and save the contents is applied to the extreme lower end of the pipe or of the coil 1?. The pipes or tubes F are perforated for vertical retorts not to ex ceed two-thirds of their length from the bottom upward, rd they are best made by tapering them, as shown, the interior diameter at the lower end being double that of the upper end.

The operation of the furnace is as follows: The ores to be subjected to this preliminary treatment are placed in the retorts 0 through the extensions D. The covers D are then closed and lnted air-tight, when the ores are ready to be subjected to the heating process.

One part of my improvement consists in utilizing the waste heat and gases of blastfurnaces, hot air, or other furnaces; and for this purpose a proper connection is made to receive such hot products into the chamber J through the pipe K. The products are distributed, by means of the dampers 1), into either or both of the chambers B, and the length of time that they remain therein is regulated by the dampers a of the escape pipes or fines I. These products finally escape through the chamber or chimney H. In case the heated products from the furnace are irregular or insufiicient to bring the retorts G to a bright cherry-red heat, (which is the heat desired for iron ores,) additional fires are built on the grates M, which grates are of sufficient size on which to build a fire that will furnish the required additional heat. XV hen the ores are sufficiently treated, they are taken out and discharged at the chute E. When the retort is emptied, it is refilled and the operation repeated. The ores are snflicicntly treated when there is no furtherevaporation or escape throughthepipes N. These pipes, extending considerably below the upper surface of the chamber G, act on the siphon principle, and conduct away from the retort the expelled or evaporated matters in a manner which forms a partial or slight vacuum, which is taken up or filled by the air, steam, or special gas within the chamber G, thereby producing a slight circulation, which takes out the expelled matters and allows a recombination of oxygen from the air or steam to take their places, thus causing the ores to become uniform as peroxides when stcarn and air are used; or other recombination may be caused by the special gas supplied to the tubes or pipes F. The roasting for each charge of the retort is continued until there is no further escape through the pipes N. The length of time required for treating different charges of ore will vary as the ores vary, and when the ores, are discharged they are prepared for introduction into the smelting-furnace, and by arranging my improved apparatus with the blast-furnaee, after a sufficient quantity of ores to fill the blast-furnace have had their preliminary treatment, the further operation will be uniform, for while one charge of ores is in the smelting-furnace and being reduced, the es caped products therefrom will be utilized in preparing other ores by means of my apparatus.

It will be understood that for the purposes for which fluxes are used they are placed in my retorts. The ordinary fluxes-sueh as lime, chloride of sodium, (salt,) &c.may be used, as necessary.

As before stated, I do not limit myself for any part of my apparatus to the precise form or arrangement shown,'as it will be evident, for instance, that the tanks 0 will be ordinarily arranged much farther away from the apparatus than the drawings would indicate, and various other modifications, which retain all of the substance of my invention, may be made. By this preliminary or preparatory treatment of the ores and the sublimation caused by the roasting or calcination of the various mineral ores treated, I am enabled to produce ores prepared for the blast-furnace, which will give uniform grades of iron (for which use it is mainly designed) or other metals, with great economy in the saving of combustible fuel, and with still greater economy over all crude methods heretofore resorted to for giving ores an uncertain preliminary treatment, as the whole series of hot-air chambers are for giving the ores their preliminary treatment by receiving the hitherto wasted heat from the blast-furnace, or other reduction-furnace, or from one set of heating-chambers to another.

The processes of treating ores for the production of uniform results, as worked out by these improved devices, are not herein claimed,

as I have made a separate application for them of even date herewith, and reference is hereby made to said application for a more complete statement of such processes.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the retort G, the perforated pipe or tube -F within the same, the heating-chamber B,-surrounding the retort, and the chamber G below and communicating with the perforated tube, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the fire-grate M and chamber B, surrounding the retort, with the hot-air chamber J and flue L,'whereby heat from two sources is combined to maintain a uniform heat around the retort, substantially as specified.

3.The combination of the chamber J and hue Lwith the retort O, fire-grate M, chamber B, flue I, and exit H, substantially as described.

' 4. The combination of the chamber G, having inlet pipes or passages R, with the pipeF and retort G, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the pipes R R and chamber G, wherebythe vapor, air, or gas may be changed or modified, substantially as described.

V CUMMINGS CHERRY, SR.

W'it'nessesz' V L. L. BOND, O. W. BOND. 

